School-Based Garden Programs
Issue: Ensuring a Sustainable Future
Target Level of Office: School Board
Policy Name: School Garden Program
Policy Origin: Denver School Garden Coalition
Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=219
Summary Narrative of the Policy: For more than a decade, Denver Urban Gardens, Slow Food
Denver, and Learning Landscapes have been collaborating on the grounds of Denver Public
Schools to establish school/community gardens and associated education programs. The
collaboration has manifested itself at dozens of DPS elementary schools and each school garden
is tailored to each school community’s needs.
Relevant Talking Points & Important Information:
• According to the Center for Disease Control, the majority of America’s children go
without eating a single serving of fruits and vegetables each day. In fact, approximately
30 percent of U.S. children are obese and half are overweight. School and community
gardens provide fresh produce on site while providing an opportunity to educate students
about nutrition.
• According to the